The Wolves of the Gems

Chapter 10

10 miles from the territory border: Southern Forest Pack Territory: Small Clearing: Early Summer

The early days of summer, the air was eerily still, and already the day was hot. And with little rainfall in both winter and spring, the conditions would be harsh in the days to come. A large, dark brown wolf raised his head, smelling the air. He pulled his lips into a smile, his golden eyes glowing and his over sized canines glinting in the summer sun.

"So, my son has returned," the dark brown wolf chuckled darkly, lowering his head to his chest. "Looks like a fire is going to burn, in more ways then one." The dark brown wolf headed towards the trees.

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The - now five - companions walked through the dense trees, Stormcloud was at the front, with Darkness and Silver behind him, Faita behind them and Chinook behind Faita. While the others weren't overly concerned about entering another territory, even though the pack no longer exsisted, Chinook walked with his ears flattened, his tail slightly tucked between his legs and his yellow eyes scanning the area, nervous of an attack. And the nervousness was spreading to the youngest member of the group.

Faita would often glance at the shadows between the trees, bushes, leaves and branches. And the young fae knew it was only because of Chinook's nervousness. It was like a virus, slowly spreading throughout the group. Faita stopped in her tracks, looking behind at the older male.

"Chinook, what's the matter? You've have this nervous haze over you since we entered the Southern Pack Territory," Faita asked, tilting her head. Chinook raised his ears at the midnight teen's voice.

Chinook let out a reluctant sigh before answering. "The last time I was in this territory, things didn't go so well," he kept his head lowered as he walked side by side with Faita. But the two wolves didn't realise they were being listened to by the dark grey wolf.

"What happened-" Faita quickly closed her muzzle when Darkness' voice rang out.

"Faita, Chinook's past is his business," Darkness warned Faita. He knew why Chinook was on edge and knew that - unless it was abosolutely nessicary - Chinook didn't need to share it. Faita flattened her ears and lowered her head. She wanted to press the matter, but considering the look Darkness had given her, she didn't.

Silver waited for her brother to focus back on the path ahead before she slowed her pace to match Faita's. Faita raised her head at the silver wolf next to her.

"Chinook was once in this territory's pack, but then something bad happened and was exiled from it, but only Darkness and Chinook know the full story," Siver whispered to the younger wolf. Faita looked at Silver, curiosity and wonder in her electric blue eyes as she turned her attention to Chinook who was now walking beside Darkness.

"Thank you, Darkness,"Chinook said, and even though his head was down, he was grateful for the dark grey wolf stepping in. Darkness nodded deeply as they walked along in silence.

Stormcloud rose his head, his large paws took a few more steps before he stopped in his tracks. He sniffed the air a couple times, a snarl formed on his muzzle. The scent was familiar, but it was no wolf, no bear, no cougar. The smell was belonged to a force stronger then all three put together. The smell was of burnt timber, grass and leaves. Fire.

"We have to move," The Storm Wolf said in his monotone voice, looking at the group behind him.

"Why, what's wrong?" Silver asked, looking at the large, black male. Stormcloud moved his yellow eyes to behind the group. The four wolves turned around to the trees behind them, their eyes widened, ears flattened in fear. From the trees rose a plume of dark grey smoke. "Oh, thats what's wrong," Silver thought out loud.

"What do we do?" Faita questioned, her voice laced with worry. Her electric blue eyes wide, her ears flattened in fear, and her heart raced.

The smoke began to block out the sun, turning the land dark. An orange glow rose from beyond the line of trees.

"We run," was all Darkness said, catching every wolf's attention, "we run, as far away from the fire as possible.

"Oh, that won't happen, Darkness," a dark chuckle caught the five companions attention. Through the darkness, all the wolves could see was two piercing yellow eyes and two over-sized canines. "You and your companions will not go anywhere until my son pays for what he has done." An almost black, brown wolf came out of the shadows.

Chinook flattened his ears and tucked his tail. Saying he was scared was an understatement, a very big understatement. But Darkness was the complete opposite. Darkness had his ears pinned in anger, his hackles raised and he was in an attack position. Stormcloud stood tall, it was his way of threatening another wolf, since he was much bigger then any wolf, his size was a detourent of an attack. Silver got into a similar position to her brother's. But is was Faita who was the only one who had her teeth bared, her blue eyes narrowed as the gem around her neck began to glow through her black fur.

"I will not allow you to harm him another time Fang," Darkness threateningly stepped closer, his voice dangerously calm, "so be smart and move out of the way, or we'll move you and let the fire destroy you."

"But are you willingly to risk the midnight teen?" Fang smirked when he saw Darkness' facial expression change ever so slightly. "The Rogues are offering a pretty price for whoever who hands her in to them, so I will ask again. Are you willingly to risk the midnight teen for my son?"

Darkness looked back to the midnight fae, he couldn't let Faita get into the hands of the Rogues, but he also knew what Fang would do to Chinook once the companions left. His yellow eyes widened when he watched one member walk forward, seeming to ave no fear of Fang.

"Darkness may not be willingly to risk it, but I am," Faita snarled, her blue eyes now glowing like the gem around her neck, "so move to the side and let us pass." The crackling of burning wood came closer and closer, and the orange glow of the fire was now placing itself on the wolves. "Or the fire will swallow us all."

The five wolves watched as Fang carefully thought about it. He slightly bared his teeth as he stepped to the side, allowing them to pass. Chinook walked closely beside Darkness as they all walked past the dark brown wolf.

Fang didn't watch them walk past, but he did speak, "Chinook, I would watch my back if I were you, because the moment you are alone, that's when I'll strike."

Chinook tucked his tail more as he walked past. Fang smirked at his son's fear of him, but nearly lost his muzzle when Darkness snapped at him as he walked past with Silver and Faita. Fang - even though he would never admit it - respected the former Rogue. Darkness was the only wolf to ever stand up to the former Rogue alpha, Shadow, and survive. Fang watched the group disappear into the burning forest before he made his own escape from the approaching flames.